[puppylove12]

Hello everyone. We live in Westchester and are looking to escape the property taxes! Would love to move to CT, within a 40-45 min commute to White Plains. I've been doing research on my own here but it's hard to tell what's what. We'd like a 2 bed / 2 bath + house or townhouse/condo in a nice, SAFE area. Wouldn't mind being in Stamford, as long as we are outside the real downtown, city part. Also, I have heard Norwalk is in that price range, but I have no idea where the nice and not so nice parts of town are. Are also looking at Ridgefield (condo or fixer upper, sigh!), and maybe the western part of Redding. Wilton and Weston possibly (don't know if the price range is possible?) Danbury/New Fairfield seems too far from what I can tell.

I should add that we like to be reasonably close to shopping/restaurants, not in the middle of nowhere. I have heard that Redding is pretty rural but don't have any firsthand knowledge of that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Where would YOU move with that kind of budget?

[Stylo]

Stamford to White Plains can be a really congested commute. Might go over 45 minutes on bad days.

Ridgefield is a really good option as you can cut through to 684 and go from there. You should actually be able to find a nicer place in Ridgefield than Stamford for your budget. I'd focus there, or maybe the western part of Danbury where your money will go MUCH further and still give you a decent commute. Western New Fairfield is also worth considering.

[kidyankee764]

I know a few people who commute from White Plains to Stamford and they usually do it in about 30 minutes. That said, I'm not sure what the traffic situation is going opposite through Greenwich. You might want to drive it during the morning/evening rush to see if it would be worth it.

If it were me, I'd move to White Plains.

[puppylove12]

Ha, KidYankee, we live in White Plains already! Trying to escape it! Any other suggestions? Thanks for the help thus far everyone! And for the insight on 684 vs Merritt/95- thank you Stylo, I think you're right

[Stylo]

684 is certainly preferable...

[elle423]

New Fairfield. $350,000 will buy you a solid 3 bedroom RR on a nice flat lot. Probably 1800 -2000 sf range. A little more will get you a 4 br, different layout (colonial around 400k+) New Fairfield to whitE plains I'm guessing would be about 45 minutes if you're on the west side of town. I live in that part of town and it used to take 45 min to tarrytown (granted off hours...10 am to 6 pm in 45 min). I now work in downtown Stamford (Washington blvd & rte 1-ish), regular hours, and it takes me 55 minutes. It's A really nice town-- definitely geared towards families and in many respects an old fashioned town w lots of conservatives-- straight out of the 1960s.. Locals tend to be all about the 21st century, but yearning and reminiscent for the 20th! Weird juxtaposition for sure, but it works Long winded response to a short one: 50 minutes

[elle423]

Long winded response to *A SHORT question*

[kidyankee764]

I agree with elle.

New Fairfield is not much further than Ridgefield (and one could possibly argue more direct), and you'll get the same home for hundreds of thousands less in New Fairfield.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I agree with elle.

New Fairfield is not much further than Ridgefield (and one could possibly argue more direct), and you'll get the same home for hundreds of thousands less in New Fairfield.

My kids' former school principal commuted from New Fairfield to southern Westchester (i.e. a bit further than White Plains) and he always said the commute was surprisingly easy.

[Stylo]

If you get near Route 22, it's a fairly easy commute. And much, much cheaper than Ridgefield or Stamford.